GB12 (Wangu, “Mastoid Process Bone”) is the Meeting point of GB & TB point of the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. It is located posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline. It dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices.
Posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline.
Oblique insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, directed inferiorly and anteriorly towards the tip of the nose, or along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord.
Dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices.
Headache, neck pain, stiffness of the neck, facial swelling, toothache, caries, throat impediment, mouth and eye deviation, epilepsy, malaria, vexation of the heart, reddish-yellow urine, ear pain, deafness, tinnitus.
GB12 is a crucial local point for treating wind-related disorders affecting the head and neck, such as headache, stiff neck, and dizziness. Its location near the ear also makes it effective for tinnitus, deafness, and ear pain. As a meeting point with the Bladder channel, it can address occipital and neck tension that extends down the back. It is also noted in classical texts for its use in calming the spirit for conditions like epilepsy and vexation.
Classical text; the translation was prepared with AI and is not clinical advice.
《針方六集》 Zhēnfāng Liùjí — Six Collections on Needling, Wu Kun, 1618 · 卷之五·紛署集 · 頭緣耳上卻行至完骨凡十二穴第五 · Source: jicheng.tw ↗
完骨二穴，主頭面腫，眼喎口僻，耳鳴，項腫，牙車急，耳後痛，喉痹，齒齲，煩心，小便黃赤，足痿不收，癲疾The text records that GB12 was used for swelling of the head and face, deviated eyes and mouth, tinnitus, swollen neck, tight jaw, pain behind the ear, throat bi, dental caries, vexation, yellow-red urine, limp legs that cannot be drawn up, and epilepsy.
《針灸甲乙經》 Zhēnjiǔ Jiǎyǐ Jīng — Systematic Classic of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, c. 256–282 · 卷03 · Source: Wikisource ↗
完骨，在耳後，入髮際四分，足太陽、少陽之會，刺入二分，留七呼，灸七壯According to this text, GB12 lies behind the ear, 0.4 cun into the hairline, a meeting point of foot taiyang and shaoyang; needling is 0.2 cun retained for seven breaths, with 7 moxa cones.
《備急千金要方》 Bèijí Qiānjīn Yàofāng — Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies, c. 650 · 第五上 · Source: Wikisource ↗
豬癇之為病，喜吐沫，灸完骨兩旁各一寸七壯The text records that for 'pig epilepsy', marked by frequent frothing at the mouth, 7 moxa cones were applied 1 cun to each side of GB12.
GB12 is one of 44 points on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian. Nearby points:
GB12 (Wangu) is located posterior to the ear, in a depression on the inferior border of the mastoid process, approximately 0.4 cun posterior to the hairline.
GB12 dispels wind, clears heat, calms the spirit, and benefits the head, neck, and sensory orifices. Common clinical indications include headache, neck pain, stiffness of the neck, facial swelling, toothache, caries, throat impediment, mouth and eye deviation, epilepsy, malaria, vexation of the heart, reddish-yellow urine, ear pain, deafness, tinnitus.
Oblique insertion 0.5 to 1.0 cun, directed inferiorly and anteriorly towards the tip of the nose, or along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Avoid deep perpendicular insertion to prevent injury to the spinal cord.
GB12 is a point on the Gallbladder Channel Meridian (Zú Shàoyáng Dǎnjīng).